Service Justice Misses The Mark

AH, THE PERKS of high military rank: A fine pension plan. Great food. Deference from underlings.

And for one American admiral, a light slap on the wrist instead of a tough penalty for a transgression.

Vice Adm. Joseph Metcalf III was caught trying to smuggle Soviet-made rifles into the United States; they had been captured in Grenada. Metcalf got away with it, and was promoted.

Seven other U.S. military men who served in Grenada and tried the same thing were court-martialed and sentenced to prison. The only apparent difference was that they were of lesser rank.

The evidence against the admiral was unmistakable. When his plane landed at the Norfolk Naval Air Station on Nov. 3, 1983, the U.S. Customs Service seized 24 AK-47 Kalashnikov automatic rifles and 24 ammunition magazines from the plane. Metcalf`s name was taped to several of the rifles.

The Customs Service turned over the evidence to the Navy, which ``cautioned`` Metcalf and ``apprised`` him of regulations preventing the keeping of enemy weapons as souvenirs. That`s all. He since has been promoted to deputy chief of operations for surface warfare.

No promotions were given to five men from the Army`s 82nd Airborne Division who tried to bring weapons back from Grenada. All were dismissed from the service, served time in military prison and forfeited pay. Similar punishment was given to two Marines.

The paratroopers and Marines surely would be interested in a full explanation of why the admiral got away with it, and they didn`t. The fact that Metcalf has a high rank, and therefore is entitled to perquisites, won`t impress the seven who served brig terms. It shouldn`t impress anyone else, either.